haruki

Pete just bought a Berg cab off me - meeting up at the dreaded South Mimms. Very smooth and quick deal no problems and a nice chap to meet. Thanks Pete enjoy the cab.

I do about 4-5 shows a year and really enjoy it... its a challenge and good for your sight reading but I like the variety of music that you get in these shows. Its also nice to work with a local group of actors/singers-who have been working on the show for months before the band turns up. I feel I owe it to them not to screw up too much. I've usually done it when get the music a week or two before band/dress rehearsals so at at least I know where the tricky bits are gonna be. Best bits for me the chance to when you get lots of people singing together - these shows usually end some big ensemble numbers. I agree with Itu above - need to able to mute when not playing. and be tolerant of the sound guys which can be variable. I prefer it when you are in pit in front the the stage but some shows the band are in a separate room with headphones and watching it all through a monitor etc. Overall its challenging but worth it IMHO.

I saw them in Stretford 1972..with Thin Lizzy - who I think were the support act. God I'm old. My main memory is that the kb player had one of those Leslie cabinets with its spinning horns - magic. I'm easily pleased.

+1 for giggear - now in the store in Harlow...quite local to me.

Thanks for the advice....we don't have an engineer - we just kind a mix on the fly with little of no monitoring. The horns/brass players tend to be a doubtful about using the pa at all - and most of the time they don't need it. But faced with 5 saxes 4 trumpets and 4 trombones I certainly need some assistance - cant imagine how they did it on the old days without amplifying the bass I guess i need to experiment a bit more in rehearsal - I can ask the singer to adjust her mic to see if that stops it. I'll check to see if they use a low cut on the mixer too.